Stuart Schweigert, CEO and owner of IMPACT Training, announces an agreement with Freeland Sports Zone to provide a sports performance program for area athletes.Cory Butzin | MLive

FREELAND, MI — Stuart Schweigert has experienced a ton of success in his athletic endeavors.

And he wants Great Lakes Bay Region youth to experience the same.

The former Heritage High standout and former member of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders announced that his athletic training company, IMPACT Training, has joined forces with the Freeland Sports Zone to provide a sports performance program that will make area athletes the best they can be.

“I can’t guarantee that you’ll make it to the WNBA or be an Olympic athlete, but I can guarantee the parents and the athlete that I will make him the fastest, strongest kid that person can be.

“I’m just giving them the tools. The staff I have here is giving athletes the tools. A hammer is only as good as the person who uses it. If it’s sits on the table, it’s not doing any good. You’ve got to use the tools you have.”

The two organizations are joining forces to combine Freeland’s 72,000-square-foot facility with Schweigert’s professional skill and experience to teach and train athletes of all sports, ages groups and talent levels.

“We’re so excited to be able to offer this for youth, not just for Freeland, for anyone whose looking to gain that extra step,” Freeland Sports Zone Director Janel Flores said.

The program is scheduled to begin Monday, June 15, with three basic training groups —Sudden Impact, Total Impact and Maximum Impact, while Team Impact offers instruction for all ages.

Athletes can tailor individual programs for strength, speed or agility training, while focusing on their individual sports.

Sudden Impact is designed for ages 7-11, while Total Impact is designed for ages 12-17. Maximum Impact is designed to offer elite level instruction for athletes serious about working toward an athletic scholarship.

“Whatever their goals are, whatever they want to do, we’re here to support them,” said former Saginaw High standout and current Saginaw Sting defensive back Jamar Hibler. “If they don’t even want to play sports, we can support them. If they want to be All-State, we’re here to help them with that.”

Schweigert said he will be able to provide higher-level football instruction, while former Buena Vista standout and Notre Dame player Tory Jackson can provide basketball instruction. The program is in the process of finding elite-level instructors for every sport.

“With the combination of my training program and the facilities (the Freeland Sports Zone) has, we can do something really special in this area,” Schweigert said. “There’s a ton of athletic talent in this area, but I don’t think there’s a ton of great coaching going on.”

Athletes can learn conditioning and sports specific drills that can improve their level of play, prepare them for college or teach them how to catch the eye of college scouts, Schweigert said.

“With my career, I have connections to a lot of people and a lot of resources, which a lot of people don’t have,” Schweigert said. “If parents want me to sit down with them and explain what a recruiter is saying, I’ll do it. If they want me to come and sit in with the college coach, I’ll sit in there.

“We can make you better in any sport you play … but it's hard work. Nothing in this life worth achieving is easy."